A Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Company Limited, has revealed why it rejected settlement terms and facilitated the seizure of Nigeria’s presidential jets.

The company alleged that its top officials were unlawfully detained and brutalized by the police during a contractual dispute with the Ogun State Government.

According to Zhongshan, the maltreatment of its officials compelled it to seek the seizure of Nigerian assets overseas.

The company claimed that its management team in Nigeria was physically harmed after being threatened by the state government. The alleged assault on its officials was the final straw that led Zhongshan to shun settlement talks and pursue legal action.

Zhongshan stated that it lost $1.078 billion following the contract termination and sought compensation through arbitration.

However, Zhongshan said the Ogun State Government failed to honour the ruling, leading the company to seek the intervention of a French court. The court ordered the seizure of three presidential jets, including a Dassault Falcon 7X, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus 330.

The company’s statement of claim reveals a trail of mistreatment and harassment that led to the seizure of the presidential jets. Zhongshan alleged that its personnel, including the Chief Financial Officer of Zhongfu Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Wenxiao Zhao, suffered verbal and physical assault by the police.

The company stated, “The draconian actions of the Nigerian authorities included the Secretary to the Ogun State Government (Taiwo Adeoluwa) directly threatening Zhongfu Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jianxin Han, to leave peacefully when there is an opportunity to do so, and avoid forceful removal, complications, and possible prosecution.

“As if this treatment were not appalling enough, the Nigerian authorities followed through on their threats of physical harm to the claimant’s management team in Nigeria. The police arrested the Chief Financial Officer of Zhongfu Nigeria, Mr Wenxiao Zhao, detained him without basis or explanation in terrible conditions, and physically beat him on two occasions before releasing him—without any charge—after a week in two jails.”

Recounting his ordeal in police custody, Zhao said, “One police officer in uniform came over to me and slapped me twice on the face. Then the police officers who brought me there took me to a room where they asked me to sign a piece of paper.

“They did not say or explain what this paper was or what it said. I refused to sign the piece of paper. The police officers then took my flip-flops and placed me in a courtyard with a number of cells surrounding it. It was dark and cold, and I was standing at the gate to one of the cells.

“Another prisoner came out of that cell and asked why I was taken. I did not speak. There were also some other people who had been brought to the courtyard, and the prisoner told us to stand side by side and asked whether we had money and why we were there. If someone had no money, he would slap them.

“Then the prisoner took me aside and asked me to speak. He said that if I did not speak, he would beat me with a club. Later, a second prisoner took me aside and told me not to be afraid. However, the first prisoner came back and threatened me with a club and asked me to speak, which I did not do.

“On what I think was the third day in the Abuja police station, a lot of people were brought into the office. The police officers moved me to another office. The police officer then approached me asking what happened. I did not respond, and he hit me twice, first on the neck and the second time on the head with a fist. It was painful, and I felt numb.

“Fearing for their safety, Zhongfu Nigeria’s management team was forced to leave Nigeria. Zhongfu Nigeria tried to take preventive legal steps in the Nigerian courts to preserve their rights, but the Ogun State Government, NEPZA, and the police orchestrated the complete evisceration of the claimant’s investment in Nigeria.”

The Ogun State Government has denied knowledge of the allegations, stating that the incident occurred before the current administration took office.

According to the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, “The incident happened over three years before the present administration came on board. I can’t speak on something we know nothing about. We don’t know what happened at that time. But we will ensure our people are not shortchanged or defrauded through fraudulent judgment.”